Loading apparatus.



J. F. COLLIER.

LOADING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, VHS- Patented Jzin.16,1917.'

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LOADING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7.1915.

Patented J an. 16,1917.

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Patented J an. 16, 1917 Snow tot JJZZZZM UNITED STATES rArENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. COLLIER, OF SQUTHABERDEEN, WASHINGTON.

LOADING- APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I, JOHN F. COLLIER, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Aberdeen, in the county of Grays Harbor and State of Washington, have invented new and useful Improvements in Loading Apparatus, of which the following isa specification. a I This invention relates to loading apparatus, and it has particular reference to an improved portable loading device. v v

One'object of theinvention is to produce a loadin device of simple and improved construction which will be mounted on wheels for convenience in transportation and which will pick up from the ground the material to be loaded whether consisting of hay, loose grain, grain in bundles. corn shocks and the like, or whether such material shall consist of loose snow, street sweepings that have been swept into windrows or the like, and which will elevate such material and deposit it in a receptacle which may either consist of the box of a wagon driven alongside of the machine or a string of gondola or other, cars alongside of which the machine is operated, no limitation being made or intended as regards the particular use or mode ofoperation of the improved machine.

I A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and improved portable loading apparatus which will be readily and easily controllable as regards the gathering and delivering mechanism thereof. I

A further object of the invention is to simplify operation of the detailed parts of the improved machine.

With these and other ends in view which will readily-appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointedout in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, ,but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope ofthe claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings,-Figure l is a top plan view of a machine constructed in accord- Specification of Letters Patent.

and improve the construction and ance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevat on of the machine as seen from the op posite side. Fig. skis a longitudinal transverse sectionalview taken on the line in.Fig.'1. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation. Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line .(3(S in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail side view of the chain tightener used in connection with the device. Fig. 8'is an end view of'the same. Fig. 9is a plan view ofthe shovel blade 50 detached." a Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference. The base frame of the improved machine Js composedot' sills or side members 15 suitably spacedand connected together, said side members being connected at their 'forward ends by arch members 16 with the front bolster 17 that rests on the front axle 18 having the ground wheels 19. The sills are supported n ar their rearward ends on the rear axle 20l aving the ground wheels '21. Supported on the sills'lharc two 'A-shaped uprights or brackets 22, 23 at the apiccs of which are bcrs, 21 supporting a longitudinal tubular shaft 2'5 which extends materially to the rearwa rd of said uprights or brackets, which latter are reinforced by diagonally disposed braces 26. The limbs of the forward up right or bracket 22 are provided with boxes 27 wherein is supported a transverse shaft or rod 28 which extends materially to one side of the frame structure. A similar shaft or rod 29 is supported in boxes '30 on the umlersides of the sills 15, the two rods or shafts 28, 29 which may be of tubular construction serving to support a conveyer :lramc A of substantially rectangular shape, said conveyor frame being supported in a downwardly and forwardly.inclined pos1- tion which is due to the arrangement of the rods or supporting members 28, 29, the formerof which being the rearward supporting member is supported at an elevation above thesupporting member 29. as will be clear by reference to the draw-inga- The side members 31 of the frame A are connected together in spaced relation at suitable intervals by cross bars or braces 32, and said side members afiord bearings at their front and re r endsand atsuilablc intervals for roll carrying shafts 32 3a, 35. the shaft 33 being located at the forward end oftiie frame, the shaft 34: at the rearward I Patented Jan. 16, 1917. I Application filed June 7,1915. Seria1No.32,6 66.

the points end, and the shafts 35 at intermediate points. The shafts 33, 34, 35 carry rolls 36, 37, 38, and an endless conveyer 39 is trained over the rolls 36, 37, the upper lead of said conveyer being supported at intermediate points by the rolls 38 to keep it from sagging materially under the weight imposed thereon. For the purpose of assisting in keeping the conveyer reasonabl taut there is also provided a gravity'tig tener ,which consists of a frame having side members 39 ivotally mounted at 40 on the inner faces 0 the side members 31 of the conveyer frame, said side members 39' being connected together and spaced apart by diagonal braces 41, and said side members supporting a roller 42 which is free togravitate into. engagement with the lower lead of the conveyer, which latter will be thereby automatically tensioned. The side members 31 of the conveyer frame A are provided with side boards 43 having stakes 44 engaging keepers 45 on the side members 31 with which said side boards may thus be detachably connected.

he conveyer frame A is provided at its lower forward end with a gathering device including an apron 46 having downturned cheeks 47 pivotally said apron being constructed of material such as sheet metal sufliciently thick to insure the necessary strength and ability to resist wear. Forwardly extending flat snarp pointed teeth 48 are bolted, riveted or otherwise secured on the apron 46, and the underside of said apron is provided with resilient ground engaging runners 49, whereby the ground. 'The'se teeth are useful when the material to be operated on consists of hay, grain or the like. When the machine is designed for loading such material as snow, street sweepings or the like, a shovel 'blade 50 may be substituted for the teeth,

or such shovel blade may be boltedin position above or below the teeth, asmay be found advantageous. It is desired to be particularly understood that the gathering device, whether consisting of rake teeth or of a shovel, may be structurally varied in any desired manner conducive to the best results.

For the purpose of adjusting the gathering device and securing it at various adjustments, the apron 46 is provided with an arm 51 securely connected with and extending upwardly from one of the cheeks thereof, said arm being connected by a link 52 with one. limb 53 of a U-shaped lever which is fulcrumed on one of the sills 15 of the main frame, the other limb 54 of said lever being connected by arod 55 with a hand lever 56 which is fulcrumed on the main frame in convenient proximity to the drivers seat 57. A second hand lever 58 fulcrumed adjacent to the lever 56 is conengaging the shaft 33,

of the teeth will be kept clear of guards nected by a rod 59 with one arm 60 of a bell ment rack 66, whereby the said levers and the parts controlled thereby may besecured at various adjustments.

Securely connected with and supported by that portion of the shaft 25 which extends rearwardly of the brackets 22, 23 is a-conveyer frame B comprising side members 67 which are connected together in spaced relation by .cross bars or braces 68, said side members affording bearings at their respective ends and at suitable intervals for shafts 69 carrying rollers 70 over which is trained an endless conveyer 71. This conveyer, as well as the conveyer 39 guided in the frame A, may be provided at intervals with slate 72 for the purpose of assisting in gripping the material .that is to be conveyed. These slats may, however, be dispensed with, and it is further to be noted that the material employed in the construction of the conveyers may be varied according to the nature of the material that is to be loaded. The conveyer 71 is kept 'taut by a gravity tightener including a roller 73 carried by a frame 74 which is pivotally connected with the end faces of the side members 67 of the conveyer frame B, 'said roller vitating into engagement with-thelower ead of the conveyer.which will thus be tensioned. One

side member 67 of the frame B is provided whereby the parts wil be maintained in as-' sembled relation; said latch member, however, may beireadily withdrawn when the parts are to be disassembled.

It is to be understoodthat the conveyer frame B is to be securely mounted on the rearward end of theshaft 25 so that by rocking the said shaft by the means provided for the purpose, the said conveyer frame may be tilted to various inclined'positions, enabling said frame to be readily adjusted to the most advantageous position for receiving material from the conveyer mounted in the frame A, and fordischarging such material into a wagon box or other receptacle. The side members of the conveyer frame B are provided with side boards 78 having stakes 79 engaging keepers 80 on the side members 67, and said side boards are pro-.

vided at the receiving end of the frame with or extensions C, each of which may consist of a frame structure 81 covered with wire netting 82 for the purpose of preventconnected by a. rod 63.with' an arm carried by the long arm 99 ing material from being spilled over the side boards when the machine is in operation.

One of the rear ground wheels of the main frame is. provided with a sprocket wheel 83 which may be mounted on the spokes thereof by means of clips or book bolts 84. A transverseshaft which is Supported for rotatioirin hearings on the sills of the main frame carries a sprocket wheel 86, and said shaft carries also intermediate the ends thereof a bevel gear 87 meshing with a bevel gear 88 on the longitudinal shaft 89 which is supported for rotation on some of the cross bars connecting the sills of the main frame.

The shaft 89 carries a sprocket wheel .90

which is connected by a chain 91 with a sprocket wheel 92 carried by a sleeve 93 which is mounted for rotation on the shaft 25, said sleeve having a second sprocket wheel 94 from which achain 95 is trained over sprocket wheels 96 on some or all of the roller carrying shafts 69 that support the conveyer 71- in the frame B, thus providing.

for the driving of said conveyer when the machine is in operation, it being understood that motion is transmitted from the sprocket wheel'83 to the sprocket wheel 86 by an endless chain 97, said chain 97 being also trained over sprocket wheels 98 on the roller carrying shafts 34 and 35- in the conveyer frame A. It will be observed that the chain 97 is trained over the sprocket wheels 83, beneath the sprocket wheel 86, thence upwardly over the sprocket wheel 98 carried by the roller shaft 34 at the upper rearward end of the frame A, thence over the sprocket wheels 98 on the front and intermediate roller shafts 33, 35 of the frame A, and back to the sprocket wheel 83. It follows that in order to give the chain the requisite grip, a tightcner is required, and such tightener is of a bell crank 100 fulcrumed on the main frame, said bell crank having another upwardly extending arm 101 which is connected by a rod 102 with a treadle or pedal 103 supported in front of the drivers seat in a convenient position for operation The tightener or tightening pulley 104 is journaled on a spindle 105 extending laterally from the lever arm 99. Said spindle has downwardly extending arms or braces 100 supporting a second spindle 107 on which a lifting pulley 108 is mounted for rotation, the chain 97 passing between the pulleys 104 and 108. The pulley 104.- will normally gravitate into engagement with the chain and will tend to hold the latter securely in mesh with the sprocket wheel 93. Should it be desired to interrupt the moving parts of the machine, the operator by placing'his foot on the trcadle 103 may actuate the bell crank 100 to lift the arm 99, ,thus causing theli'fting. pulley 107 to lift he chain 97 out of engag'cnicnt with the driving sprocket 83,

- they will not interefere with 25 and assisting the same in supporting the weight of the conveyer frame B, the said shaft is provided near its rear end with a downwardly extending bracket .109, said bracket being connected, by braces 1 10 with the rearward ends of the sills 15 of the frame structui, said braces being so arranged that the tilting moveir ent of the conveyer frame B.

From the foregoingdescription taken in connection with the drawings hereto an.- nexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. While the machine is perhaps primarily intended and adapted for the loadmg of hay .and grain in the field, the. use thereof, as herein distinctly set forth, is in no wise limited, and it is to be particularly understood that not only may the material of which the parts are constructed be varied, but the dimensions and proportions are likewise capable of Wide variation according to the manner in which the machine is to be used and the particular purpose for which it is intended. As themachine passes over the ground the gathering device may be deadily adjusted to engage the material that is to be loaded, and when this material is in the nature of grain shocks or the like, the operator or assistants appointed for the purpose may be provided with forks, pike poles or the like to assist in tilting the material that it to be gathered and loaded on the primary conveyer guided in the frame A. Ordinarily, however, no such. assistance is necessary, especially when the material to be gathered is loose, or when such material is deposited in windrows. Obviously, when the machine is intended for loading hay or grain, the width of the primary conveyer may be gaged according to the width of the deposited in or upon receptacles of any appropriate kind, said receptacles being arranged in any suitable manner.

liVithin the. scope of the present invention it would befeasible to provide the main frame with wheels adapted to engage the rails of an ordinary railroad track, and the machine might then be arranged and proportioned in such a mannei as to remove snow and other obstructions from the right is claimed as new, is

1. In a loading apparatus, a wheel supportedmain frame having longitudinal sills and front and rear brackets supported on said sills, a shaft su ported by and extend;

- ing laterally from tll supported by the front upright and extenda ing laterally with respect to the main frame,

' a conveyer frame supported on the'projecte sills, a second shaft ing portions of said shafts in a downwardly and forwardly inclined position, a longitudinal shaft supported on the front and rear uprights, and a second conveyer frame supported on said longitudinal shaft with its receiving end below and adjacent to the discharge end of the first mentioned con- Gopies at this patent may be obtained for sleeve.

veyer frame; conveyers guided in said frames,- and means for driving said conveyers.

2. In a loading device of the class described, a wheel supported main frame havingfront and rear A-shaped brackets, a longitudinal rock shaft supported at the apices of. said brackets, a conveyer frame carried by the shaft, means for rocking the shaft to adjust the conveyer frame, an endless conveyer in the frame, and means for transmitting motion from a ground wheel of the frame to the conveyer, said means includin a sleeve mounted for rotation in the rock s aft, and sprocket wheels 0"- said In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN- F. COLLIER.

Witn; 1

Mrcmnn J. .Kna'rmo, A. H. BnaNms.

an acute eaoh, by addressing the commissioner e! rateats. Washington, D. 0." 

